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Myanmar's Suu Kyi to visit troubled diaspora in Thailand

Thu, Jun 23, 2016 - 1:30 PM

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi arrives on Thursday in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border.

PHOTO: AFP

[BANGKOK] Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi arrives on Thursday in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border.

It is Ms Suu Kyi's highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, ending nearly half a century of military domination.

Her government has seeded hopes for a new era of prosperity that could eventually convince the army of low-paid Myanmar labourers in Thailand to return home.

The two Southeast Asian neighbours have travelled in starkly different directions in recent years.